Thales and Dstl Unveil Cutting-Edge Hybrid Testing Hub for Crewed and Autonomous Military Systems

Thales and Dstl Unveil Cutting-Edge Hybrid Testing Hub for Crewed and Autonomous Military Systems

(IN BRIEF) Thales UK, in collaboration with Dstl, Catalyst, and DCE, is developing a hybrid digital twin testing environment for crewed and uncrewed land robotic systems under the Land Digital Robotics and Autonomous Systems Integration Capability (L-DRIC) project. This hybrid system allows operators and researchers to test both virtual and physical systems through a unified interface, enabling extensive experimentation with autonomous systems. By integrating open and modular architectures, L-DRIC will reduce risks, costs, and timescales for introducing new technologies into the UK Army. The platform is designed to enhance multi-domain operations by incorporating Thales’ DigitalCrew AI technology to reduce cognitive burdens and improve system efficiency.

(PRESS RELEASE) LA DÉFENSE, 18-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Thales UK, under contract with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), has partnered with Catalyst and DCE to create a hybrid digital twin environment for testing and integrating Land Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS). This innovative project, known as the Land Digital Robotics and Autonomous Systems Integration Capability (L-DRIC), aims to enhance the UK Army’s understanding of the collaboration between crewed and uncrewed systems in modern combat scenarios. Final trials and demonstrations of the platform are expected by early 2025.

L-DRIC provides a hybrid ecosystem that enables operators and researchers to test and experiment with RAS in both virtual and physical domains. Using a single interface, users can control both crewed and uncrewed platforms in a unified environment, supporting extensive research in beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) reconnaissance and multi-domain operations. This capability will help reduce risks, costs, and timescales in integrating new systems into the armed forces.

Thales is leveraging its DigitalCrew technology and AI enablers to improve system effectiveness while reducing cognitive burdens on operators. The project partners bring complementary expertise to the table: Catalyst offers proficiency in synthetic environments and digital twins, while DCE provides expertise in open architectures and command and control (C2) technologies for uncrewed ground vehicles. Together, the consortium is creating a comprehensive system for experimentation across multiple domains.

The L-DRIC platform features a physical mobile crewed platform equipped with Thales optronics sensors, enabling the control and observation of autonomous, uncrewed vehicles. The integration of digital twins for each system allows for detailed simulation and testing in a virtual environment, ensuring the platform is adaptable, scalable, and cost-effective. By using an open and modular architecture, L-DRIC is designed to rapidly incorporate emerging RAS technologies with existing platforms like Ajax.

In addition to enhancing experimentation, L-DRIC supports the Army’s long-term goals of improving decision-making in combat by using AI to autonomously detect and classify objects of interest. This data is then shared across a network to build a comprehensive Common Operating Picture (COP).

Stephen McCann, Managing Director of Thales UK, expressed his excitement about the project, noting that the collaboration between Dstl, Thales, Catalyst, and DCE advances the UK’s capabilities in digital twin technologies and open architectures. This initiative is set to redefine how crewed, optionally crewed, and uncrewed systems interact within complex, multi-domain environments.

The project underscores the growing importance of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence in modern warfare, ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of defense technology innovation.

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SOURCE: Thales